Medical Bulletin 25/September/2023

Here are the top medical news of the day:

Mirabegron therapy does not prevent progression to Heart Failure: Study

Mirabegron therapy showed no significant impact on left ventricular mass or diastolic function over 12 months in patients with structural heart disease and no or mild heart failure symptoms, a recent study published in JAMA Cardiology has found.

Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is a significant contributor to heart failure (HF) development and progression. For individuals in the pre-HF stage (stage B), there has been a lack of effective treatments to prevent the transition to overt HF (stage C). A new study investigated whether activating β3-adrenergic receptors (β3ARs) using the β3AR agonist mirabegron could be a safe and effective approach to prevent the progression of LVH and diastolic dysfunction in patients with pre- or mild HF.

Reference: Balligand J, Brito D, Brosteanu O, et al. Repurposing the β3-Adrenergic Receptor Agonist Mirabegron in Patients With Structural Cardiac Disease: The Beta3-LVH Phase 2b Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Cardiol. Published online September 20, 2023. DOI:10.1001/jamacardio.2023.3003

Waist-to-Hip Ratio (WHR) strongest predictor of mortality than BMI, Study finds

A recent study conducted on a large cohort of British individuals has revealed that the Waist-to-Hip Ratio (WHR) is a stronger and more consistent predictor of mortality compared to the Body Mass Index (BMI). The research emphasizes the importance of considering adiposity distribution, particularly WHR, in clinical assessments and recommendations.

The study, involving 387,672 participants of British White ancestry, utilized an observational approach alongside Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses. The participants were divided into a discovery cohort and a validation cohort, with the latter, used for analyses. The research aimed to evaluate the link between these different adiposity measures and all-cause as well as cause-specific mortality, including cancer, cardiovascular disease (CVD), respiratory disease, and other causes.

Reference: Khan I, Chong M, Le A, et al. Surrogate Adiposity Markers and Mortality. JAMA Netw Open. 2023;6(9):e2334836. DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.34836

Ultra-processed foods, particularly artificial sweeteners linked to increased risk of Depression

A recent study conducted among middle-aged women has found that the consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPF) is associated with a higher risk of depression. UPF, which includes energy-dense, ready-to-eat items, has long been associated with various health issues, but its link to depression has been relatively unexplored.

The cohort study, conducted between 2003 and 2017, involved middle-aged females who were initially free of depression. The study, which adhered to STROBE reporting guidelines, analyzed data from 31,712 participants. It revealed that those with high UPF intake had greater BMI, higher smoking rates, and an increased prevalence of comorbidities like diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia. They were also less likely to exercise regularly.

Reference: Samuthpongtorn C, Nguyen LH, Okereke OI, et al. Consumption of Ultraprocessed Food and Risk of Depression. JAMA Netw Open. 2023;6(9):e2334770. DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.34770